American dilemmas in Lebanon affect Israel

The Trump administration is facing three central dilemmas in Lebanon with direct impact on Israel: whether to continue military assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces; how to debilitate Hezbollah; and the future of UNIFIL. In the past decade, the US provided the LAF with more than $2 billion in military assistance. The main consideration is that only the army can confront Hezbollah, and therefore it should be reinforced. Lately, a group of congressman asked US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to stop all aid to the LAF. The argument advanced was that in fact there is no difference between the LAF and the terrorist organization Hezbollah. They are the same. To support their claim, the congressman quoted Israeli sources about an existing connivance where the army is giving Hezbollah military uniforms and conducting joint patrols. According to UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006), the army is the sole Lebanese force responsible in the area south of the Litani River. No ethnic faction in Lebanon has the capability to face Hezbollah. Washington believes the army can. Lebanese President Michel Aoun is the commander in chief of the armed forces, and as long as he is sitting in Baabda Palace, it is unlikely he will permit the army to clash with Hezbollah. America will have to decide whether to continue with the assistance to the LAF or to stop it. One of the major objectives of the US is to militarily and politically debilitate Hezbollah. Despite sustained American efforts, Hezbollah is getting stronger. A source close to the terrorist organization said recently that every time the Americans take steps against the organization, Hezbollah turns those steps to its favor. For example, the American administration refused to cooperate with the Lebanese Ministry of Health regarding the coronavirus, because it considers the minister close to Hezbollah. The response of the latter was to establish an impressive medical system with hospitals, doctors, ambulances, etc. The Hezbollah minister became popular. The same happened when the US administration wanted to hurt Hezbollah through the financial institutions. Bear in mind that out of the 20 ministers of Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab's government, 12 have American citizenship. Finally, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon dilemma. In March 2018 the secretary-general of the UN published his report on the implementation of UN Resolution 1701. According to the report, Hezbollah is impeding UNIFIL tasks and not allowing the UN to enter some areas held by the terrorist organization. Israel would like to see a change in the situation by fully implementing Resolution 1701. Israel is working closely with the US in that regard. UNIFIL is an additional instrument for contact between the Israelis and the Lebanese. Except for this, UNIFIL failed to reduce the tension within its jurisdiction area. A serious debate on the future of UNIFIL is a must. The flamboyant declarations of Lebanese Armed Forces commander Joseph Aoun against Israel are worrisome. The hope that the army will confront Hezbollah is a chimera, and the help extended by the Lebanese army to a terrorist organization is alarming. Practically, all three American dilemmas are also Israeli dilemmas. The writer is a former ambassador to Egypt and to the UN in Geneva.

American dilemmas in Lebanon affect Israel

One of the major objectives of the US is to militarily and politically debilitate Hezbollah. Despite sustained American efforts, Hezbollah is getting stronger.

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